Newsletter

Want a Fair Fight?

At times in my life I have suffered under what I considered unreasoned authority. I have been perceived as “unreasonable” and “difficult”, usually by those who are unreasonable and difficult.

Action and commitment mark my life progression. In my personal life as well as with associations I maintained I have had to stake a position. Gathering information on a subject, seeking input from others, and then taking a stand for what I believe.

In my family reunions I have listened to others as we recite our prayers. My Uncle Warlick, the grandson of Rev. D.D. Warlick of the Methodist Church, revisited his words in reminding us that “may we do what is right even when all around are doing wrong”. To stand for what we believe.

In 2009 I received an appointment to the City of Lubbock Board of Heath from Councilman Todd Klein. Public Heath is a “hidden service” in the community…rarely noted unless there are dangers confronting our citizens. In the course of serving on the Board I gain awareness of the importance of our Health Department in protecting our community. Incidents of hepatitis C, exploding Sexually Transmitted Disease (STDs), and the health of our infants in being immunized are to be fought for.

In 2010 there was a mounted effort by some on that City Council to close the Health Department. The mayor and several on the city council conspired to eliminate public health as a civic responsibility.In response a grassroots group was formed to fight against this inequity and rashness. The results were to collect 6,000 signatures on a public petition that “encouraged” the council to vote 7-0 to keep the department open.

During that process I learned how communication can be restricted so that information about the goings-on at City Hall was difficult to review. I became well-versed about “open records requests” and how one must frame the request in very specific language. Even with that large segments of documents were redacted and reduced. I learned from those records that the City Manager at that time had complied with a request that eight police officers be deployed in a Board of Health subcommittee meeting because of concerns that I might get out of hand.

Our community won the battle to keep the health department open. Since then we have seen improved support for the health department from our city leaders so that, when state funding was cut in 2013 for our STD clinic, the monies were replaced through city support.

After close to five years on the Board of Health I see the opportunity to advance important issues in our city. I have a strong understanding of how one moves an idea from its birth to a law. I am at present torn about whether I can do more for our community on the City Council or be helpful in continuing to serve as chairman of the Board of Health.

Government action can be difficult as practicality and common sense are shaped with a view toward politics. After a careful grooming on the Board of Health I possess a grounded awareness of how the process of our city government takes place.

If I move forward in this campaign to serve as the representative from District 5 I have the following list of concerns that I would address.

Infrastructure Development: In 2019 the contract that the City of Lubbock has with Xcel. This approaching fact means that we must solve the problem of our electrical needs after that date. With a new board membership on the EUB the council must partner with them in gathering information about our options and then present these in an understandable way to the citizens for their input. Protection of our ground water is a second area that must be monitored and managed. Accepting the reality that we must take care of our buildings and roads may be difficult for some but we cannot continue to “kick the can down the road” in maintaining our property. Time is of the essence.

Communication: As a person who makes a living in interpersonal communication there is a need to improve the two way flow of information between the council and the citizens they represent. When the Health Department was in danger of being closed in 2010 I spearheaded the effort to develop a grassroots effort to save the department by collecting over 6,000 signatures on a public petition. Since that effort I have served in two terms as Chairman of the Board of Health for the city and have worked closely with several council members and other city departments. It has not always been easy to navigate the government halls and better communication would be very helpful. Methods of reaching out to a busy public such as the evening council meetings has been a good step but much more is needed. We should take advantage of social media opportunities to make it easier for our citizens to interact with a virtual city government.

City Debt Management: This is not the time to seek to finance purchases of minor city equipment. Such deepening of our 1.1 billion dollar debt is unwise and places the city in a poor financial position. Long-term investments in infrastructure to sustain the city into the future may require such debt but such decisions must involve the community and not take place in closed meetings.

Growth of Texas Tech University and other learning institutions: Education is a means to both promote our citizens improving their personal lives as well as a boost to the health of our community. I believe that the city could extend their partnering with these local schools to promote designed growth that is good for all.

I have already seen today the smear campaign where I am discounted with simplistic labels. Ask me the issue and judge for yourself. At the local level I believe that most will find me a reasoned person as we look to sustain growth within a reasonable budget. I have always welcomed a spirited discussion and the problem has usually been that I can’t get a fair fight. Give me that chance and let me know if I should stand and fight for what I believe is the heart and soul of Lubbock.

On this day of honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. we would do well to remember that his words remind us of the importance of driving forces for change. King was explicit in a sermon: "Everybody passionately seeks to be well-adjusted," he said, "But there are some things...to which men of good will must be maladjusted." May we not become well-adjusted to the problems that our community faces and may our leaders reflect their passion to stand and fight for what they believe.